For Xu Qingqing, it was incredibly fortunate that Xu Xiuxiu safely gave birth to boy and girl twins. Naturally, as her older sister, she was happy, but ever since she had given birth to Cai Tou, she and her husband hadn't deliberately used contraception. The couple had discussed and decided to let nature take its course, wanting another child, whether it was a boy or girl. Given that their financial situation was stable and they could afford the fine for exceeding the birth policy, it wasn't a significant concern. However, years had passed, and there had still been no sign of pregnancy in her belly. Now, knowing her younger sister had given birth to twins in one go, she felt both envious and jealous. How could this girl be so blessed!
"Xiuxiu, how are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?" Xu Qingqing thought to herself as she approached the peacefully sleeping twins. Then, noticing that Xu Xiuxiu's mother-in-law and sister-in-law had left the room, carefully giving the sisters some space for a private conversation, she immediately began to inquire about Xu Xiuxiu's health.
It was all women here, and she knew her younger sister had been in poor health during her pregnancy with Cheng Guang. Now, having just given birth to twins, who knew how much she had suffered!
"Second sister, I'm fine. The childbirth didn't hurt too long, and both kids are very healthy." Xu Xiuxiu, having rested throughout the night, had already regained some strength. With the additional room space, her overall condition appeared far better than that of other women who had just given birth, drenched in sweat and exhausted. With the two children beside her, the scene looked incredibly harmonious.
Text acquired from M|V|LEMP&YR.
Seeing Xu Xiuxiu in such a state, Xu Qingqing also knew her sister was living well and quickly suppressed her worry, thinking her sister wasn't one to suffer losses lightly, "Since you gave birth right before New Year, it looks like Si Ya's wedding has to be postponed," Xu Qingqing said as she tucked the blanket around Xu Xiuxiu. She then quickly added, "That girl said she wouldn't get married if you, her fourth sister, didn't attend her wedding." Xu Qingqing chuckled as she looked at Xu Xiuxiu.
"Can't believe how much closer you two have grown in just a few months! Come on, confess, what love potion did you give Si Ya? She always brings you up in everything," Xu Qingqing said, her tone tinged with playfulness and a hint of complaint.
"What love potion could I possibly use, sister? You're talking nonsense." Xu Xiuxiu glanced at Xu Qingqing, unamused by her teasing, and, feeling anxious, moved on to express her concerns, "Second sister, I was just wanting to ask about Jingjing. How come she is suddenly getting married? When is the wedding, and who is the groom?" As soon as Jingjing was mentioned, Xu Xiuxiu remembered the tearful phone call from the young girl she had received right before coming back, which still weighed heavily on her heart.
She had planned to visit her parents' place as soon as she returned, but the urgency of her own labor had intervened, and once the child was born, everything else seemed to have been put on hold. With the postpartum confinement period in the rural area lasting about thirty to forty days, by the time she could leave the house, it would be too late.
"It's all because of Xu Fangfang," Xu Qingqing said, clearly frustrated, though she wasn't completely aware of the details. She continued, having gleaned some information from their parents, "Didn't Xu Xiuxiu say last year she wanted to invest in Sichuan Pavilion and you refused? After that, she and her husband planned to use money to open a restaurant in the county, but they ended up losing everything and were deeply in debt. At one point, the debt collectors almost tore down their mud walls, so fiercely it was quite frightening. And what's with that couple? They borrowed money without even considering who from—once they even signed a document under pressure without realizing they were getting deceived. Initially, they borrowed only 200 yuan, but the document they had signed stated it was 2000 yuan." Xu Qingqing explained, gesturing with two fingers.
"Plus, those idiots borrowed more than 100 yuan from that good-for-nothing cousin, who's nothing but a thug. He must have surreptitiously seen Si Ya somewhere before the New Year and since then started to scheme over this. Seeing the couple was naive, he tricked Xu Fangfang and her husband by suggesting that they could meet Si Ya once, and then they wouldn't have to repay the more than 100 yuan. Pressured by the external debts and being fools themselves, they agreed without thinking or asking, never considering if it might harm their own sister. The trip back home turned into a huge mess. Our parents are no better, lacking any sense themselves. Xu Fangfang has always been a liar, and whatever she says, our parents believe. Together, the couple deceived Jingjing into coming home. Now, they have pushed Jingjing into disaster. Jingjing will probably hate them for the rest of her life," Xu Qingqing spoke, her voice full of remorse.
She felt sorry for Si Ya, but as children, they couldn't simply presume to reproach their parents for their mistakes, even though they had indeed erred.
"Si Ya suffered a disadvantage?" Xu Xiuxiu, furrowing her brows, anxiously sat up from the bed, "Is Si Ya married to that good-for-nothing cousin?" Xu Xiuxiu's sharp words directly addressed the main issue, and at that moment, she felt a rush of anger burn from her stomach to her throat.
Xu Qingqing, seeing Xu Xiuxiu's expression, felt somewhat heart-wrenched but ultimately nodded, "That scoundrel probably harbored despicable intentions from the start, Jingjing was ruined by him." But what could be done about it? They could only swallow their teeth and bear it.
"What?" Xu Xiuxiu's hands trembled slightly, hardly daring to comprehend the meaning of those words, "Second sister, by ruined, you mean..." Xu Xiuxiu didn't have the courage to easily utter those words.
What does it mean to be ruined? In this era, what could warrant the use of the word "ruined"? Xu Xiuxiu dared not think about it or venture down that path.
"Alas!" Xu Qingqing sighed helplessly, "It's all fate!"
"Second sister, can you please go home tomorrow and bring Jingjing here? I have something I need to ask her!" Xu Xiuxiu now had a myriad of questions that only Jingjing could answer, but then she remembered the proud and stubborn young girl and felt deeply sorry for her all over again.
She should have insisted back then. She clearly saw that the young girl did not want to come back. Why didn't she stop her? Xu Xiuxiu thought, overwhelmed with a sense of guilt and remorse.
"She hasn't left the house in a long while." Xu Qingqing shook her head helplessly, somewhat uncertain of persuading the young girl to come see Xu Xiuxiu.
"Second sister, tell her that even if she doesn't want to come see me, it's okay. I'm prepared to risk my health and not observe the confinement period anymore. If she regards me as her third sister and cares for me, she will naturally come to see me." Xu Xiuxiu was quite confident about this, as she had lived closely with the girl for several months and knew well that her words often did not match her feelings.
"Alright! I'll try." Xu Qingqing nodded in agreement. She didn't know what Xu Xiuxiu would say to the young girl, but she knew that Xu Xiuxiu's words, at this moment, were likely more effective than anyone else's. The girl had been distraught since the incident and occasionally mentioned her third sister.